10 Best Microphone for YouTube

Product Expert supports our readers with thousands of hours of research and reporting to help you find the products for your life and your family.
You support us through our independently chosen links, which earn us a commission. Learn more about what we do.

Having the best video quality is only half the job done, you need the best microphone for the budding YouTuber to get the job done properly before uploading to YouTube itself. We review some of the best on the market to give you an insight as to the different YouTube equipment on the market and what they offer in terms of sound quality, how the mic will function and what type of microphone is perfect to suit your type of filming. When selecting the mic you want you to need to consider what you are going to be using your microphone for and in what situation.

Do you need a mic that can record voice or music, will you be indoors or out? These are all pertinent questions when it comes to selecting the right mic. We look at their directionality, how they operate and what accessories you can expect, giving you and insight as to which mic is best for your particular brand of video YouTube users are making.

Best Microphone for YouTube

1. Blue Yeti USB Microphone – Silver

The Blue Yeti is one of the absolute best on the market and a very well-known microphone for YouTubers to use when vlogging. The mic offers great features and exceptional control it is one of the best around. Simply plug it in via included USB cable and begin recording. Offering a tri-capsule array of 3 condenser capsules that can record in nearly any situation YouTubers need them too.

Pattern selections include cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional and stereo. No matter if you are making podcasts or field recordings this is the microphone for you. This is one of the best for recording music, doing interviews or having Skype conference calls.

Controlling your microphone is simple, and you can have control over your recordings in real-time. Control your headphone volume, pattern selection and microphone gain as you record. If you need to interrupt an interview use the instant mute option, or if you are recording a very loud sound source adjust your sensitivity levels to compensate.

Equipped with a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack that offers no latency delays, YouTubers can listen to their recordings as they make them. Pivot it in the direction of your sound source and position your microphones in the best way to get that quality you need. It is also easily portable for field recording as it can be folded down or removed from its base.

Why We Like It

4 Pattern selections

3.5-millimeter headphone jack

Gain control

Instant mute option

Easily portable

Our Verdict

Looking for the best microphones for YouTubers to accompany their high-quality video you found it in the Blue Yeti USB Microphone. Not only is it easy and simple to control, it offers a diverse array of pattern selections to record the best sound in any environment and is the best type of microphone for any type of recording.

Editor Rating

2. Razer Seiren Pro Elite XLR and USB Digital Microphone

This is the microphone you need for all of your YouTube requirements. Not only do these microphones offer three custom 14mm tuned condenser capsules to allow you to record in four different patterns, bidirectional, cardioid, omnidirectional and stereo, it also offers a high-pass filter with frequencies below 100Hz, which will allow you to remove any extraneous hums and rumbles which are common in your home or studio.

Simple controls on these microphones allow you to switch the recording pattern, and the zero latency monitoring headphone amplifier is compatible with any 3.5mm headphones for you to monitor your recording in real-time. Make all necessary adjustments to produce crystal clear sound no matter if you are recording music, doing a voiceover, recording an interview or simply adding a commentary to your gaming video.

Connecting your microphones to your computer is simple and easy using the USB cable that is included. However, if you want even more options such as being able to chain multiple microphones into a pro mixing board, you can use the XLR output which will open up a whole host different recording options.

Why We Like It

USB and XLR outputs

14mm tuned condenser capsules

4 recording patterns

Compatible with any 3.5mm headphones

High-pass filter with frequencies below 100Hz

Our Verdict

If the best crystal clear quality sound is what you need for your microphone to go with your beautiful 4K quality video for your YouTube post. The microphones you are looking for are the Razer Seiren Pro Elite XLR and USB Digital Microphone. Multiple recording patterns and USB and XLR outputs put these microphones in a category all of its own.

Editor Rating

3. Blue Microphones Snowball iCE Microphone

Looking for a great quality, low-cost microphone to get your YouTube vlog going, then look no further than the Blue Microphones Snowball iCE Microphone. These microphones offer you everything you need to record your YouTube audio for vocals, create a podcast or just add some narration to your videos. You can even record live music or bands with this great USB microphone.

These microphones offer an A/D custom condenser capsule which gives you clear audio when video chatting on Skype or using FaceTime or Twitch. Connecting your Blue Microphone Snowball iCE Microphone, just plug and play. There are no drivers to install and the Snowball iCE is compatible with both Mac.

A highly versatile microphone that can go anywhere with you as long as you have your laptop you can get crystal clear recordings in the field using your Snowball iCE microphone and the USB cable which is included in the package.

Making those all-important HD audio recordings for YouTube or SoundCloud has never been easier with the Blue Microphone Snowball microphones, it is affordable, quality and value for money in every way.

Why We Like It

Custom condenser capsule

Plug and play

Windows and Mac compatible

USB cable included

No drivers to install

Our Verdict

A great starter microphone for all those who would love to start their own vlogs on YouTube. Easy connection to both Mac and PC with an included USB cable. The custom condenser capsule will provide crystal clear audio and with a price that you will love.

Editor Rating

4. Samson Go Mic Portable USB Condenser Microphone

These are highly portable microphones with a compact design which allows you to simply clip it onto your laptop or let it sit on your desk out of the way. USB connection with no drivers to install and compatible with both Windows and Mac this is the best microphone not only for YouTube but also for using with voice recognition software, iChat or VoIP. Record high-quality interviews, do voiceovers or have a crystal clear conference call using the cardioid polar pattern of these microphones.

For you jamming sessions, or webcasting or your YouTube video, you have the option of using the omnidirectional pattern which allows you to get audio from a wide area. The frequency response of the Samson is 20Hx-18kHz with a resolution of 16-bit/44.1kHz so you get the highest quality professional audio available in a compact portable design microphone.

The stereo 1/8 inch headphone output of the microphones offer no latency monitoring of your recordings, and the Samson Sound Deck Noise Cancellation Software for both Mac and Windows (available to purchase separately) ensures crystal-clear audio for your YouTube video.

Why We Like It

Compact with Clip-On ability

2 polar patterns (omnidirectional and cardioid)

USB connection

Plug & Play – no drivers

Mac and Windows compatible

Our Verdict

Looking for a highly portable mic that is easy to use and compatible with Mac and Windows then you found it in the Samson Go Mic Portable USB Condenser Microphone. Get crystal clear audio for any type of recording, with its two polar patterns you are always covered no matter what you want to record.

Editor Rating

5. Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio Bundle

If you are a musician and want to upload your songs to YouTube you need one of the Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio Bundle microphones. With its instrument input, it is designed to cope with even the seriously cool guitar pickups and offer you crystal clear vocals. The microphones preamp feature allows you to set your gain levels accurately to get the best recording.

Offering both USB audio interface and 10-inch XLR mic cable which is included. The mic stand clip allows you to play your guitar and record comfortably and is one of the best for the solo artist.The low latency of these microphones is great for adjusting your recordings in real time without DSP and it offers conversion and sample rates up to a 192kHz/24 bit.

The Focusrite is compatible with both Mac OS x 10.10 or higher and Windows 7 or higher. Some of the additional features you get when purchasing this mic include Focusrite Control to enable you to rout and monitor your application. Red 2 & Red 3 Plug-in Suite and Ableton Live Lite to enable you to master your music and much more. It also offers one free XLN Addictive Keys virtual instrument when you purchase and register your microphone.

Why We Like It

Instrument input

USB audio interface

10-inch XLR mic cable

Low latency

XLN Addictive Keys virtual instrument

Our Verdict

The solo artists dream mic for making their high-quality recordings to upload to YouTube. Designed for both vocals and instrumentation with great guitar picking pick-up. Use the 10" XLR mic cable or connect with USB cable and start your solo career now.

Editor Rating

6. Audio-Technica AT2035 Large Studio Condenser Mic

The best microphone for voiceovers, music and interviewing the Audio-Technica has a large diaphragm condenser with offers natural sound and low noise and the cardioid polar pattern will reduce any unwanted sounds from both the sides and the rear of the mic. This is the best microphone to record professional studio and live recordings, as well as voiceovers for your YouTube videos.

These microphones offer an 80Hz high-pass filter which is switchable and a 10dB pad it will allow you to record high sound pressure levels easily. This Pop Filter will help you eliminate all those extraneous sounds from your recordings and the 10ft XLR Cable allows you to connect the mic to either your mixer or your interface.

The Audio-Technica AT2035 microphones have a rugged construction so you can take it with you for field work along with a protective pouch and a custom shock mount to eliminate even more unwanted sound. You also get a microfiber cleaning cloth included to ensure that you keep your mic clean and ready for every recording session.

Why We Like It

Large diaphragm condenser

Cardioid polar pattern

80Hz high-pass filter

10dB pad

10ft XLR Cable

Our Verdict

These microphones offer a number of features that will enable you to make the best and most standout soundtrack to your YouTube video. The cardioid polar pattern eliminates unwanted sound from the rear and sides and the 80Hx high-pass filter along with the 10dB pad ensure crystal clear audio when you need it.

Editor Rating

7. Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ Cardioid USB Mic

A condenser mic offering a number of great features to give your YouTube video quality sound, whether a voiceover or commentary on your gaming video or a recording of your band jamming.The mix control on the mic gives you the ability to blend your recording along with a pre-recorded audio and the internal headphone amplifier with a high-output offers great musical detail and clarity and higher volume.

The headphone jack on these microphones lets you monitor and control your volume without any delay. The A/D converter has a 16-bit 44.1/48kHz sampling rate and offers high-quality crystal clear audio. Connectivity is through a 10” USB cable and the mic is compatible with Window, Vista, XP, and Mac.

You also get included with your mic a pivoting stand mount with 5/8”-27 threaded stands, a 5/8”-27 to 3/8”-16 threaded adapter, a tripod stand for your desk and a protective pouch for when you are going to be using your mic in the field.

Why We Like It

Mix control

Internal headphone amplifier

Headphone jack

A/D converter

10” USB cable

Our Verdict

These are the microphones you need to make professional studio recordings of your music, offering the ability to mix both pre-recorded sound and your live recordings, an internal headphone amplifier with high output and A/D converter ensures high-quality audio to complement your high-resolution video recordings.

Editor Rating

8. Rode NT1A Anniversary Vocal Condenser Microphone

Wanting to start your solo career out by uploading your tracks to YouTube then the Rode NT1A is the microphone you need to get it going. One of the quietest mics on the market it offers exceptionally low self-noise levels of only 5dBA with its transformerless surface mount circuitry, this makes these the ideal microphones for recording your guitar, vocal or percussion performances.

These large gold plated diaphragm 1” cardioid patterned condenser microphones are designed with a studio grade pop shield which is integrated with its internal capsule shock mount offering interference-free audio in your microphones.

JFET impedance converter with a bipolar output buffer and frequency range of 20Hz-20kHz along with a sensitivity of -31.9dB and a pressure gradient acoustic principle, you are assured of the best audio from your microphones. Rounding out this great package is a 20-foot XLR microphone cable allows to put your mic where it is needed. You also get a dust cover for your mic along with an instructional DVD. You also get a 10-year warranty with the mic.

Why We Like It

Low self-noise levels of only 5dBA

Transformerless surface mount circuitry

Gold plated diaphragm 1” cardioid patterned condenser

Studio-grade pop shield

Internal capsule shock mount

Our Verdict

Near silent self-noise microphones that are efficient and designed to give you the best audio quality when recording your home studio. The Rode NT1A Anniversary Vocal Condenser Microphone is definitely one of the best on the market and offers you ultra-high quality audio to accompany your 4K quality video.

Editor Rating

9. Rode NT-USB USB Condenser Microphone

A superbly versatile microphone that offers studio-quality recording for your vocal or musical performances as well as working exceptionally well for podcasting and voiceovers. The cardioid polar pattern mic has very low self-noise and is designed to give you the clearest audio possible. The microphone is compatible with both Window and Mac and for added convenience you can use your Apple iPad with a USB connection adaptor, to record using the RODE Rec, GarageBand or any other app that will accept an external mic.

These USB microphones offers a zero-latency stereo headphone monitoring 3.5mm jack so you can monitor and adjust the levels as you record and you can mix the computer/iPad audio as well as the mic input. The pop-filter will minimize the "plosives" when recording speech or vocal performances as it is placed at the optimum distance from the capsule.

If you want to place your mic on a stand it is no problem with the RODE as you get a stand mount with a 3/8" thread, as well as a desktop tripod stand for your microphones. You also get a storage pouch to protect your mic when traveling or for storage. The 6m USB cable for you microphones allow you to position the mic optimally for your recordings, and you get a 2 year extended warranty when you register your mic with RODE.

Why We Like It

Compatible with Windows, Mac, and iPad

Zero-latency stereo headphone monitoring 3.5mm jack

Stand mount with a 3/8” thread

Cardioid polar pattern

Pop-filter

Our Verdict

High-quality audio for your home studio recordings, the best for voiceovers, musical recordings or podcasting. Zero-latency monitoring and mixing ability allow you to monitor and record input from your mic and blend with a computer or iPad audio. Low self-noise and pop-filter give you great clarity of sound eliminating all unwanted noise.

Editor Rating

10. Apogee MiC 96k Professional Quality Microphone

A high-quality cardioid condenser microphone that provides excellent audio quality for interviews, podcasts and voiceovers for your DSLR video to get your vlogging site up and running. Record in HD at up to 96kHz/24-bit with these microphones and it will work with iPhone, Ipad, iPod touch and Mac, with no power cord or batteries needed. A Mac USB cable is included for ease of connection to any Apple smartphones and other Apple products.

With these compact microphones that are highly portable and the best microphones for use in the field, you get not only a digital microphone, but a microphone preamp and an A/D converter all designed to deliver you audio with low noise and a high-quality crystal clear soundtrack for your video.

These microphones are small enough to fit in your pocket you will never be left without the ability to conduct that interview or jam with your band anywhere and anytime. Easy to use microphones with a plug and play function with no configuration needed. A headphone amplifier, 48V phantom power, and maestro software control as well as Apogee SoftLimit software, round out this great product.

Why We Like It

Cardioid condenser microphone

Mac USB cable included

Compatible with iPhone, Ipad, iPod touch and Mac

Microphone preamp

A/D converter

Our Verdict

The best microphone to deliver high-quality audio when you are out in the field as it is compact and small enough to fit into your pocket. Compatible with all Apple and Mac products, just plug it in and record anywhere and anytime.

Editor Rating

Buyers Guide Questions

Selecting the best microphone to provide the best audio to complement your video on YouTube is not as difficult as it might seem. But having quality kit to give you quality sound is what will make you stand out when producing YouTube videos at 4K quality. First, you need to understand what you kind are good for what type of recording you are going to be doing, whether it be recording predominantly music, vlogging, game walk-throughs or voiceovers and podcasts.

This will have an effect on the type of product you will need to look at purchasing. There are a few different kinds of YouTube mics on the market and we will give you a quick run through for you to understand the different types.

USB Microphones These types of mics are still the most commonly used for YouTube and they can be used for a multitude of different types of filming. They are easy to use, most being plug and play with no drivers needed for installation. As long as you have a computer handy, you can record high-quality sound using the USB types of mics.

Camera Microphone These are the mics that are connected to your camera such as shotgun mics – click here to see our top list. They are bestg for use both indoor and outdoor and are used by videographers and YouTube vloggers.

Lavalier Microphones These types of mics are not common, however, they are best for interviews or where you want your mic to be unobtrusive as possible. They are the best mics for using in pranks you want to upload to YouTube.

iOS Microphone These some of the least common mics used by YouTube Vloggers, however, if you are going to be using your phone to record your video, this is the product you will opt for.

You must also take any accessories your mic offers such as stands, shock mounts or pop-filters as well as portability. Finally when deciding which mic will suit you best budget will be a decider.

What kind of Microphone do Youtubers Use?

The answer to the question of what products are the perfect for YouTube users is a question that is not as straightforward as it may seem. It would depend on what type of video you are recording and what kind of sound you want to record. Condenser mics are a firm favorite of YouTuber users as they offer a wide spectrum of uses and are best for music both vocals and instrumental as well as for interviews and voiceovers. Most YouTube vloggers use USB related items as they are easy to use, plug and play and most are compatible with both Windows and Mac.

What is the best Microphone for YouTube?

Again this will depend entirely on what type of recording you want to do with your sound kit. If you are on YouTube making a movie and need sound to accompany it you would look at something like a shotgun mic to accompany your DSLR camera, however if you are looking at doing interviews, voiceovers, vlogging or podcasts, then the standard USB microphone such as the ones we have reviewed for you would be the best options.

What is the best studio Microphone?

Setting up your home studio to record your music and you need the best microphone that is suited to a studio environment, you need to look at what kind of product offers what type of recording to make the best decision. Choosing the wrong mic can be catastrophic to your recording career and the right mic will get your YouTube musical career off the ground nicely.

If you are mostly going to use your product to record instruments such as drums and electric guitars then the dynamic microphone would best suit your purposes. The reason for this is that they are less sensitive to sound pressure and high frequencies than your condenser mics and will be able to take a lot more punishment in regards high sound volume.

They are also a lot less expensive than your high-end condenser. If however, you are looking for the mic that will give you the best high fidelity audio for your recordings then the mics you need to look at are the condenser mics. They are a lot more sensitive and are an excellent piece of kit for recording vocals and guitar pickups as well as instruments such as piano and strings.

The USB microphone has become very popular in recent years especially as they are easy to use, and are mostly plug and play so if you have a computer you can hook up your mic and get the best quality sound. These are very popular due to the fact that you can use them in studio or out in the field and they are able to record any kind both vocals and instruments with comparative ease.

What Would you use a Condenser Microphone For?

YouTube vloggers looking for a microphone that can cope with both recording music whether it be vocals or instrumental and one that is just as adept at recording interviews, doing voiceovers, producing podcasts and more, then the condenser microphone is the one that you should consider. The condenser microphone is the one you will find in every home studio and is a must-have for every serious producer of video.

The reason for the condenser mic being so popular with YouTuber users and one of the best, is its versatility. I can be used for a variety of audio recording due to the fact that it is a highly sensitive microphone that can pick up all the nuances when recording instruments such as guitars and piano’s as well vocal musical performances, as well as being the best for recording kind of sound. It has a diaphragm or capsule that is covered by a thin layer of material and this allows your mics to capture the sound very accurately and in high detail.

Conclusion

Whether you are starting out on your YouTube journey or a seasoned hand you know that having the best video is only half the job done, you need the microphone for YouTube that is going to provide you with a high standard of audio quality whenever or wherever you need to record.

Top Pick

The Blue Yeti USB Microphone is our top choice of best microphones for YouTuber due to its great features and versatility. The three condenser capsules will record in any environment and you can choose from four polar patterns, stereo, cardioid, bidirectional and omnidirectional, depending on your unique requirements. Simple and easy to use, you just plug it using the included USB cable and you are ready to go on YouTube.

Control your mic easily in real-time (perfect for YouTube live streaming!), select you headphone volume, polar pattern and gain as you go to ensure you get the best audio you possibly can to compliment your video. Doing an interview and need to take a break, no problem, just use the instant mute option on these mics. Loud sounds are also no problem as you can easily adjust your sensitivity levels to compensate.

The zero-latency 3.5mm headphone jack allows you to listen to and adjust as you record for YouTube. Looking for the best option for portability? You found it in the Blue Yeti as it can be folded down and removed from its base. It will also pivot in any direction you need to get the sound you want.

Premium Choice

An outstanding YouTube Vlogging mic that will fit any and all of your requirements for the absolute best audio recording. Three custom 14mm tuned condenser capsules allows you to use one of four polar patterns, bidirectional, cardioid, omnidirectional and stereo. The high pass filter removes those irritating hums and rumbles that you commonly get in your home or home studio.

It’s best for controlling your kit with little effort, switching recording patterns, adjusting volume and more. The zero latency monitoring headphone amplifier which is compatible with all 3.5mm headphones allow you to monitor your recording and make the necessary adjustments to your audio in real time. One of the best options for recording your music, conducting interviews or adding commentary to your home movie.

Connecting your mic is as simple as plugging in the provided USB cable or you can use the XLR output to allow you to connect to a pro mixing board, and gives you the ability to chain multiple mics into your mixing board opening up a whole diverse field of recording options. This may not be the cheapest YouTube microphone on the market however for all of its features and capabilities it is one of the best and our premium choice and will give you the best audio for your extremely high quality 4K video for YouTube, every time – see our review for this.

Great Value

So you want to start a vlog or just want to upload your videos to YouTube and although you have the best video, your sound is not the best as you are not using the option of an external mic. The answer is to get a microphone that will add the quality of audio you need to get you noticed. You, however, to not want to spend a fortune on a microphone and need something simple and easy to use, but with the features to allow you to get the audio you want for your YouTube channel.

The Blue Microphones Snowball iCE microphone is the one you need. This product is our choice for great value if you are just starting out on YouTube. This is a USB microphone so you can easily take it with you and use it wherever you need to, whether you are jamming with your band, conducting an interview, doing a podcast or even just creating a voiceover for your home movie perfect for those who love to record and upload to YouTube.

The custom condenser capsule gives you crystal clear audio for YouTube and there are no drivers to install, simply plug and play. A very versatile microphone that is compatible with both Mac and Windows and is one of the best pieces of kit for all of your HD audio recordings without the heavy price tag.